Bread and Water Fasting

[MissGranger]

My son has just informed me he’s doing a bread and water fast for the next nine days. I won’t mention why as it has to do with something the Church has not approved yet. But my question is this: is it okay for a young man to eat and drink nothing but bread and water for that long a period of time? He doesn’t take any vitamins and probably won’t consider it if I suggest it. I did suggest he drink a protein shake once a day as it can be mixed with water, but he doesn’t want to do that, either.

I wouldn’t worry if this was just for two or three days, but nine days seems excessive to me, and dangerous. Any thoughts or advice?

 

[mab23]

I wouldn’t worry , he has all the energy in his body for 9 or 10 days , and if he is still eating bread and drinking water , hell be fine (our bodies are made to store energy (fat) so we are all equipped to fast if we need to for long periods of time - maybe ask him to throw up a squeeze of lemon or lime in his water for some vitamins if your really worried

a reason I would be worried is if your son is already very thin or has little to no bodyfat -

but If i were you , i would encourage him - fasting can be beneficial in some ways

and its not easy , it will be a nice experience for him if he can do it

Ive done a few fasts myself , but again all this above is just my opinion

 

[bmullins]

How young is young? A 9 year old would probably have problems with it, but someone in their early to late teens shouldn’t have trouble at all. You could go a lot longer than 9 days on just bread and water if you needed to, but 9 days shouldn’t be a problem for the average person.

If you are truly concerned about it, have him see a doctor first just to make sure he has no health problems. For a healthy individual it should be safe. For someone with hidden heart issues etc, it could be dangerous.

 

[MissGranger]

I wouldn’t worry , he has all the energy in his body for 9 or 10 days , and if he is still eating bread and drinking water , hell be fine (our bodies are made to store energy (fat) so we are all equipped to fast if we need to for long periods of time - maybe ask him to throw up a squeeze of lemon or lime in his water for some vitamins if your really worried

That’s reassuring, thank you. And the lemon/lime is a good idea! I also checked the label on the whole wheat bread we have, and there is a decent amount of protein in it, so that’s reassuring me, too.

a reason I would be worried is if your son is already very thin or has little to no bodyfat -

but If i were you , i would encourage him - fasting can be beneficial in some ways

and its not easy , it will be a nice experience for him if he can do it

Ive done a few fasts myself , but again all this above is just my opinion

Well, he’s fairly slim, but not overly so. Just normal for his height.

How young is young? A 9 year old would probably have problems with it, but someone in their early to late teens shouldn’t have trouble at all. You could go a lot longer than 9 days on just bread and water if you needed to, but 9 days shouldn’t be a problem for the average person.

If you are truly concerned about it, have him see a doctor first just to make sure he has no health problems. For a healthy individual it should be safe. For someone with hidden heart issues etc, it could be dangerous.

He’s 23, so although he’s still living at home, he’s mostly out of my jurisdiction as a parent. And he’s starting this tomorrow morning, so too late to try and talk him into seeing the doctor first. He’s always been very healthy, though.

Thank you both for responding, I’m feeling better about this now.

 

[ConstantineTG]

My son has just informed me he’s doing a bread and water fast for the next nine days. I won’t mention why as it has to do with something the Church has not approved yet. But my question is this: is it okay for a young man to eat and drink nothing but bread and water for that long a period of time? He doesn’t take any vitamins and probably won’t consider it if I suggest it. I did suggest he drink a protein shake once a day as it can be mixed with water, but he doesn’t want to do that, either.

I wouldn’t worry if this was just for two or three days, but nine days seems excessive to me, and dangerous. Any thoughts or advice?

This is serious fasting and he would need two things:

1. a doctor confirming that he is physically able to do this
2. a spiritual father/mother (director) who will direct him in fasting and helping him achieve the spiritual benefits of fasting

Remember that fasting for the sake of fasting is vain fasting, and does nothing for someone. So spiritual direction is very important especially for such a challenging fast.

 

[mab23]

That’s reassuring, thank you. And the lemon/lime is a good idea! I also checked the label on the whole wheat bread we have, and there is a decent amount of protein in it, so that’s reassuring me, too.

Well, he’s fairly slim, but not overly so. Just normal for his height.

He’s 23, so although he’s still living at home, he’s mostly out of my jurisdiction as a parent. And he’s starting this tomorrow morning, so too late to try and talk him into seeing the doctor first. He’s always been very healthy, though.

Thank you both for responding, I’m feeling better about this now.

Glad to hear - if he is 23 , I wouldn’t be too worried

and if hes normal health and wait he should do fine

This is serious fasting and he would need two things:

1. a doctor confirming that he is physically able to do this
2. a spiritual father/mother (director) who will direct him in fasting and helping him achieve the spiritual benefits of fasting

Remember that fasting for the sake of fasting is vain fasting, and does nothing for someone. So spiritual direction is very important especially for such a challenging fast.

its not really FASTING if your eating bread too - its more like a very restricted diet

how is this Serious fasting?

I don’t think he needs a doctors consent if hes 23 - I mean if he wanted to he could break the fast at any time…

and I don’t understand your second post, and I don’t understand vain fasting - their have been reports of mental clarity , relief on the digestive systems and detoxification benefits to those who fast - if he wants to fast he can

 

[MissGranger]

This is serious fasting and he would need two things:

1. a doctor confirming that he is physically able to do this
2. a spiritual father/mother (director) who will direct him in fasting and helping him achieve the spiritual benefits of fasting

Remember that fasting for the sake of fasting is vain fasting, and does nothing for someone. So spiritual direction is very important especially for such a challenging fast.

Thanks for your advice, I’ll suggest the above to him. He does have a spiritual director, but I don’t know if they’ve discussed this. And he’s definitely doing this for a serious reason. It’s one that I’m not in agreement with as we have different views on certain things, but I’m trying to respect him in this and be as supportive as I can.

its not really FASTING if your eating bread too - its more like a very restricted diet

how is this Serious fasting?

I don’t think he needs a doctors consent if hes 23 - I mean if he wanted to he could break the fast at any time…

and I don’t understand your second post, and I don’t understand vain fasting -** their have been reports of mental clarity , relief on the digestive systems and detoxification benefits to those who fast **- if he wants to fast he can

I’ve heard this, too, although I’ve never experienced it myself.

 

[ConstantineTG]

its not really FASTING if your eating bread too - its more like a very restricted diet

The term became nuanced in the West. Fasting means giving something up. It doesn’t mean you give up all food.

how is this Serious fasting?

Because the body needs certain nutrients not found in bread and water. Even if he eats to his fill with bread, he could still get vitamin deficiencies.

Also depends what his normal diet is. If his body is used to a certain intake, the shift in the intake could alter his body’s chemical balance. It may or may not affect him, but there are many levels in which a body can be affected.

I don’t think he needs a doctors consent if hes 23 - I mean if he wanted to he could break the fast at any time…

I guess depends on how much he actually would eat.

and I don’t understand your second post, and I don’t understand vain fasting - their have been reports of mental clarity , relief on the digestive systems and detoxification benefits to those who fast - if he wants to fast he can

Fasting must have a spiritual goal. St. John Chrysostom has wrote a lot on fasting, including vain fasting. One of the things he said that is at the end of your fast you are still the same sinner as you were before your fast, then your fast was in vain. It would have been better never to fast at all. Fasting is not a Fear Factor challenge where you try to do something to test the limits of our body for the heck of it. You fast because you want to grow spiritually. And you cannot do that on your own, you need someone to guide you through your fasting.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Thanks for your advice, I’ll suggest the above to him. He does have a spiritual director, but I don’t know if they’ve discussed this. And he’s definitely doing this for a serious reason. It’s one that I’m not in agreement with as we have different views on certain things, but I’m trying to respect him in this and be as supportive as I can.

That is good then. Hopefully he has spiritual guidance on this. If that is the case, then pray for him that his fast may be successful.